his anointed." But the Spirit of God was stronger than the opposition of Satan; and "added to the church daily such as should be saved." This is part of that "sure word of prophecy," which is left for the instruction and encouragement of those, "on whom the ends of the world are come." May all contribute to the effect for which it is designed and help to "direct our hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ;" till the fulness of time arrives, and he appears, not in wars and rumours of wars, not in famines and pestilences, but "with ten thousand of his saints," and "all the holy angels with him,” "on the throne of his glory." LECTURE LIX. THE CALAMITIES ATTENDING THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM FORETOLD.—MEANS OF ESCAPE. MATT. xxiv. 15-28. WE broke off in the midst of the discourse, i which our Lord was conveying information an warning to his disciples, as to the events which should precede the destruction of Jerusalem. He had hitherto spoken generally, and taught them to expect troubles and persecutions. He now acquaints them more particularly how they might avoid the dreadful evils of the siege. 15. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand :) 16. Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: 17. Let him which is on the house-top not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18. Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20. But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 1 Daniel had spoken of the time, when "the daily sacrifice" offered at Jerusalem "should be taken away," and "the abomination that maketh desolate, set up." Our Lord teaches us what is meant by "the abomination that maketh desolate :" saying, in St Luke, (xxi. 20), "when ye see Jerusalem compassed about with armies, then know and understand that her desolation draweth nigh." 1 Dan. xii. 11. A foreign army was every way an abomination to the Jews, and too surely it proved an abomination of desolation. When, therefore, the Romans were seen compassing about Jerusalem, the Christians who believed their Lord's words had notice to escape. Let them beware of being enclosed within the walls: when the siege has once begun, all who are in the city must abide their fate: let those who are abroad not venture to return home: and let those who are at home, flee to the mountains for safety. Sad indeed would it be for such as could not fly, or who were forced to fly in the most distressing circumstances: with their infants, or in the winter, or on the sabbath day. For there shall be great tribulation. So grievous were the miseries attending the siege and the destruction of this city, that the historian, who was an eye witness, declares that no city ever suffered such things; and that all the calamities which have ever happened to any, seem not comparable to those which 3 Historians relate, that in conformity with these instructions, when the Roman army approached Jerusalem, the Christians who were in the city fled to Pella, a mountainous region, and to other places beyond the river Jordan. : The strict observance of the Jewish sabbath, would forbid even flight from danger on the sabbath day. The enemies of the Jews sometimes took advantage of this religious scruple. Christians were not bound to the same rigid observance but early prepossessions had such hold upon the minds of the Jews, even after they were converted to the Christian faith, that they would not use their liberty. St. Paul alludes to this, Romans xiv. 5, 6. Perhaps, however, these are general expressions, intended to heighten the idea of distress. befel the Jews. It would appear, as if no flesh could be saved. Still it was not the design of God that this his people should be utterly destroyed. Therefore, for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened, and a remnant be allowed to survive. 4 23. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25. Behold, I have told you before. 26. Wherefore if they say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. The disciples are here assured that, if they attend to these warnings, they cannot be taken by surprise. Behold, I have told you before. Even But the This is commonly interpreted of the Christians. Christians had notice to escape, and, as far as we know, did not suffer in the siege. The Jewish people were also the "elect of God:" and God had still a purpose respecting them. St. Paul, ten years before this event, had spoken "of a remnant according to the election of grace," who had obtained "righteousness through faith in Christ Jesus." (Rom. xi. 5, 25-28.) And now, though "blindness in part had happened unto Israel," still they were "beloved for their fathers' sakes;" and out of the general calamity a portion of the people was preserved, which should hand down the race of Abraham. though the coming of the Son of man should be sudden as lightning, it should be also visible as lightning and if they made a timely escape from Jerusalem, they should avoid its miseries: if they left the carcase, they should escape the eagles, 5 But that such a season would be a season of great trial and temptation, who could doubt? Therefore, Satan would take advantage of it, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. If it was possible: that is, if the power of Christ were not greater than the power of Satan, and if the care of God did not preserve unto the end all those who commit. their souls to him. How great must have been the comfort to Christians of those times, when looking forward to the predicted calamities, they could also look forward to a promise which implied, "as thy day is, so shall thy strength be." "I will pray that thy faith fail not." Even in the midst of a most overwhelming calamity and signal judgment, God distinguishes and remembers his own, who put their trust in him. When Lot was delivered from the destruction of Sodom, the angel said unto him, "Haste thee, escape to Zoar; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither." There must be a difference observed "between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not." And the expres sions in this passage suggest a like consolatory reflection. If it were possible, they should deceive the very elect. For the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Eagles formed the ensign of the Roman army. |